The effect of COVID-19 virus on male fertility and erectile function.

Abstract

Introduction. The problem of the pandemic caused by the COVID-19 virus is extremely relevant. It has been proven that SARS-CoV-2, which causes respiratory distress syndrome, is not only aggressive towards lung tissue, as was originally assumed. A promising direction in the study of the pathogenic properties of the pathogen is the effect on the male reproductive system. Materials and methods. The review authors searched the Pubmed and eLibrary databases for the keywords «COVID-19», 2 SARS-CoV-2», «male fertility», «reproductive health», «sperm», «erectile function», «erection». A total of 122 publications were found, of which 34 were selected for this review. Results. According to a review of scientific publications, coronavirus infection can negatively affect the reproductive system of men through a combination of ACE-2 receptors and cellular transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), due to the development of oxidative stress in testicular tissue, hyperthermia, secondary cytokine storm syndrome, side effects of medications taken, which leads to damage to the testicular tissue, a decrease in the quantity and quality of spermatozoa, and the development of various forms of pathospermia. The cascade of pathological processes in the body of a man, developing under the influence of the COVID-19 virus, leads to damage to the endothelium of the penile vessels, a decrease in nitric oxide level in the cavernous bodies, which is manifested by a decrease in erectile function. Conclusions. Due to the short duration of the studies performed, the heterogeneity of the observed groups of patients, and a limited sample, it is impossible to make final predictions of the severity of reproductive and sexual disorders after a new coronavirus infection, their relationship with the characteristics of the course of the disease and the degree of reversibility of pathological processes. Accumulated data during the pandemic period indicate the potential impact of SARS-CoV-2 on male fertility and erectile function, which requires further large-scale homogeneous observations.